Hamas: We won't arrest Palestinians who attack Israel

[JohnLocke]

Hamas: We won't arrest Palestinians who attack Israel
By Nidal al-Mughrabi -- Reuters
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GAZA (Reuters) - Incoming Palestinian interior minister Saeed Seyam, chosen by Hamas to oversee three security services, said on Thursday he will not order the arrest of militants carrying out attacks against Israel.
"The day will never come when any Palestinian would be arrested because of his political affiliation or because of resisting the occupation," Seyam told Reuters in an interview. "The file of political detention must be closed."
Hamas, whose charter officially calls for Israel's destruction, swept to victory in a January 25 election and plans to present its cabinet line-up to a Hamas-dominated parliament for a vote next week.
The militant group has selected Hamas loyalists like Seyam to fill almost all of the 24-member cabinet after President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction and other moderate parties refused to join a coalition with Hamas.
Hamas's failure to convince rival factions to join the government could make it harder for it to rule and could cement U.S. and Israeli efforts to isolate the group.
As well as vowing not to arrest militants for carrying out attacks against Israel, Seyam said Hamas would try to coordinate militants' operations.
"Talks with the factions in the future will focus on the mechanisms, the shape and the timing (of any attacks)," he said. "But the right to defend our people and to confront the aggression is granted and is legitimate."
(...)
"Saeed Seyam did not come to the government to revive any security cooperation or to protect the occupation and their settlers. I came to protect our people and their fighters, to protect their trees, their properties and their capabilities," Seyam said.
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Read the rest here.

[still_one]

1. This implies that they are encouraging them to attack Israel

In the six day war they were told DO NOT negotiate with Israel, we will destroy it. It didn't happen, and for the first time Jews were able to pray in Jerusaleum.

In the Yom Kipper war they were told DO NOT negotiate with Israel, we will destory it. It didn't happen, and they lost land.

So how long will it continue until they realize that talking is much cheaper than killing, and the way to sway people to your side is through negotiation instead of agression.

Of course I find very little difference in a Palestinian Mother encouraging their child to be a suicide bomber, because it will bring them freedom, and a parent in the U.S. encouraging their child to fight in Iraq with the illusion that it will protect the U.S.

[Violet_Crumble]

5. They still lost land when they did negotiate with Israel..

The PLO both acknowledged Israel's existance and negotiated with Israel and during that time the settlements grew at a huge rate. There's got to be a sincere desire from Israel to negotiate in a way that leads to two secure, viable and independent states rather than treating negotiations where it's all gain, gain, gain for Israel. Of course the chances of there being negotiations with Hamas in power are as bleak as them having had a chance of happening when Sharon was in the driver's seat in Israel...


Violet...

[still_one]

10. it has to start somewhere

I really don't think we are in that much disagreement

[Violet_Crumble]

13. No, I don't think we are either...

And on that note I'll head off and have dinner. Enjoy the rest of yr weekend :)

Violet...

[still_one]

19. thanks, have a good dinner, John

[still_one]

2. An Arab/American Woman's point of view

Wafa Sultan





http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/11/international/middleeast/11sultan.html?ex=1299733200&en=d13886daba5e586f&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss

http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2703896?htv=12&htv=12

[Violet_Crumble]

3. Yr link doesn't work...

But after seeing the rather shonky MemriTV in the url and the name of the very angry and hatefilled Wafa Sultan (at least the thing of hers on Islam portrayed her as such), I don't think I'm missing much by it not being a live url...

Violet...

[still_one]

4. I just fixed the link. Watch the reaction of the MALE CLERIC toward her

[Violet_Crumble]

6. No thanks. I don't clink on rancid links like Memri...

I can live without that sort of crap, and I'd be highly surprised if what you posted related in any way to the OP...

Okay, I just noticed you linked to other sites than memri. Can't say I'm anymore interested in clicking on them than I was before as my impression of this Wafi Sultan is that she's consumed by hatred and I don't think anyone can take her too seriously...

Violet...

[still_one]

8. Then why did you even respond if you made your mind up

oh, wait a minute, she is a woman who is expressing her view that you may disagree with. She is not a jew, she is a muslim. this was broadcast on an Arab channel.

[Violet_Crumble]

11. Because someone needed to tell you yr memri link didn't work...

And I've been crystal clear why I wouldn't waste my time on it, and not surprisingly it's not for the reasons you stated...

Violet...

[barb162]

15. Violet, I believe she was on that rancid link called Al Jazeera

and her original debate with some deluded hateful imam got about a million plus hits as word got around that this woman decimated this imam.

[Violet_Crumble]

16. Barb, stillone originally posted a link to Memri...

The link didn't work, so they replaced that link with new ones. At no time were either of us talking about a link to Al Jazeera, so I've got no idea why you think we were...

btw, there's something equalising about a deluded hateful islamophobe debating a deluded hateful iman. I guess that sort of crap appeals to a lot of internet weirdos out there...

Violet...

[still_one]

20. interesting

[barb162]

22. Violet, I know all that... you don't have to repeat it

The original interview was on Al Jazeera and it makes no diff if you were talking about it before. That debate on AL Jazeera made this woman famous and that's an important little fact

[Violet_Crumble]

25. Then why try to claim I was talking about Al Jazeera being a rancid link??

Bizarre or what?

Violet...

[Violet_Crumble]

7. What exactly does this Wafi Sultan stuff have to do with the OP?

Just curious...

[still_one]

9. she talks about the suicde bombers

but if it upsets you to listen to her, don't do it

I am not justifying any of the injustices that the Israellis have done to the palestinians or for that matter what other Arab countries have done, all I am doing is presenting an opinion.

The only way things will be solved is with negotiations, others it will be more blood

[Violet_Crumble]

12. Uh, where did I say it upset me to listen to her?

Given what I've read from her a few weeks back, she strikes me as an incredibly hatefilled woman. Unless she's changed dramatically I see her as yet another waste of space not bothering with..

I agree with yr last line, which is why the extremists on both sides should have been sidelined a long time ago. Unfortunately for a whole variety of reasons it didn't happen, and here the Israelis and Palestinians are today, even further away from any chance of real negotiations that will lead to an end to the conflict than before...

Violet...

[still_one]

18. lets hope both sides will see the light

peace

[barb162]

14. This is one brave and brilliant woman!

[Violet_Crumble]

17. barb, the woman is an islamphobe..

Far be it from me to point it out, but praising an islamophobe has about the same level of appeal as watching someone praising an Antisemite...

Violet...

[still_one]

21. I thought she was a Muslim?

[Violet_Crumble]

23. No, she's a Christian....

She used to be a Muslim, and as is the case with reformed folk who've given up stuff (I speak as a semi-reformed smoker), there's a helluva lot of vitriol and broad and negative generalising of both her former religion and those who are Muslim...

Violet...

[Englander]

24. The characters at lgf call her 'smart & fearless'.

http://www.littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/?entry=19543&only


Which is one way to describe her.


'Islam Fatally Flawed, Says Voice From Corona via Al Jazeera

Wafa Sultan, who tells a tale of terror from Syria, draws lots of Western media attention but not as much from Muslims.

By Teresa Watanabe, Times Staff Writer
March 13, 2006

She's no longer a Muslim, has never connected with progressive Islamic groups and does not know the writings of Islam's most respected voices of reform.

So why is Wafa Sultan, a 47-year-old Southern California woman, suddenly in the news as a fresh voice of reason and reform about Islam?

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-sultan13mar13,1,4162472.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california

[Englander]

26. Working link for the LA Times article above;

Islam Fatally Flawed, Says Voice From Corona via Al Jazeera
Wafa Sultan, who tells a tale of terror from Syria, draws lots of Western media attention but not as much from Muslims.
By Teresa Watanabe
Times Staff Writer

March 13, 2006

She's no longer a Muslim, has never connected with progressive Islamic groups and does not know the writings of Islam's most respected voices of reform.

So why is Wafa Sultan, a 47-year-old Southern California woman, suddenly in the news as a fresh voice of reason and reform about Islam?

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-sultan13mar13,0,4069446,print.story

[Scurrilous]

27. "The characters at lgf call her 'smart & fearless.."

Says it all right there.

BTW...what happened to Nonie Darwish? I thought she was the go to person for this sort of thing.

[adriennui]

28. palestinians don't have to be encouraged

to attack israelis. it seems to come naturally to many of them.

they should be DISCOURAGED from attacking, hamas shouldn't be laissez-faire on this issue.